Chikara means “strength”, “ability”, or “influence” in Japanese. The symbol represents an arm, a downwards hand or a primitive plow (used by workers in the field). The character does not represent an object but evokes the capacity to act using namely: STRENGTH, ENERGY, ADAPTABILITY and RESOURCEFULNESS.
In the context of martial arts:
- STRENGTH refers to the inner strength to control oneself and to be resilient in the face of adversity;
- ENERGY reflects the effort, the application and the use of STRENGTH, which are all necessary to the execution of martial arts techniques;
- As for ADAPTABILITY, it is linked to the ability to both adapt and act on one’s environment; and finally,
- RESOURCEFULNESS refers to the martial artist’s ability to efficiently use available resources to overcome adversity.